NAOGAON: The cultivation of maize in Naogaon is seeing significant expansion, driven by favorable climatic conditions, competitive market prices, and strategic initiatives by local agricultural offices. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has set ambitious targets for the current season, aiming to cultivate maize on 7,635 hectares with an expected production of 93,300 tonnes. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, farmers in Naogaon have already planted maize on 5,250 hectares, achieving 69 percent of the target. Deputy Director of DAE, Abul Kalam Azad, noted an increase in maize cultivation due to its diverse uses, including as food for fish and cattle and as a source of fuel. The DAE has been proactive in supporting this growth by distributing hybrid maize seeds and fertilizers free of cost under an agricultural incentive and rehabilitation program. The agriculture department has distributed seeds and fertilizers to 1,300 marginal farmers in the district to encourage maize cultivation. Speci fic allocations of 220 hectares in Naogaon Sadar, 830 hectares in Raninagar, 4,725 hectares in Atrai, among other upazilas, highlight the widespread adoption of maize farming. Each participating farmer received two kilograms of seeds, 20 kilograms of DAP fertilizer, and 10 kilograms of MOP fertilizer for one bigha of land, underscoring the commitment to boosting agricultural productivity in the region.
